Alisson praises Ancelotti: “The atmosphere of the Seleção was transformed”
Less than two weeks before Brazil’s World Cup debut, goalkeeper Alisson Becker opened up about Carlo Ancelotti’s impact on the group. For Liverpool’s number 1, the Italian coach radically changed the mood in the Seleção since taking the job last year – and that is one of the reasons the team arrives at the tournament calmer.
From chaos to stability: what Ancelotti brought to the dressing room
“It is undeniable that the last period was very difficult for us, the players. We felt closely the difficulties we had for various reasons. Since Ancelotti’s arrival, the atmosphere has been transformed,” said Alisson. The statement carries weight. The Seleção went through a turbulent phase in the qualifiers, even occupying embarrassing positions in the South American table before qualifying.
Ancelotti, who became the first foreign coach to take Brazil to a World Cup, took over a national team in an identity crisis. Poor results, internal wear and media exposure had eroded the group’s confidence. The goalkeeper described the turnaround precisely: “He carries a strong presence and gives us the calm of an environment focused on work, without controversy.”
It is no small thing coming from someone who plays under constant pressure at one of the most demanding clubs in Europe. Alisson went further and highlighted the coach’s personal traits: “He is resilient, humble, has the intelligence to choose the right words at the right time. He has a clear idea of football, which facilitates our style of play.” This combination, in the goalkeeper’s view, directly favours the collective performance.
The weight of the job and the debut against Morocco
Brazil take the field on 14 June, in New Jersey, against Morocco – a team that reached the semi-finals of the last World Cup and represents an opponent far from being a formality. In Group C, the five-time champions share the group with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland. Opening the tournament well is a basic condition to avoid repeating the stress of the qualifiers.
Alisson did not mince words in sizing up what it means to lead Brazil. “His position perhaps has more pressure than being president of the country, in its own way,” he stated. The phrase sounds hyperbolic, but anyone who follows the Brazilian’s relationship with the shirt understands the point.
Taffarel, a hero and work partner
Alisson also paid tribute to the Seleção’s goalkeeping coach, Cláudio Taffarel. World champion in 1994 and hero of the 1998 semi-final against the Netherlands, Taffarel is one of the most revered names in the history of Brazilian football. For Alisson, working alongside him is something that goes beyond the professional.
“One of the most vivid memories I have, at six years old, is the semi-final against the Netherlands. My father played a prank when Taffarel saved the penalty: he grabbed a cake and shoved it in his own face. I think that is why it stuck so much,” recounted the goalkeeper, with a dose of affection in his voice. The memory says a lot about the symbolic weight Taffarel carries for an entire generation.
In Alisson’s view, the coach’s contribution goes beyond what appears on camera. “Maybe people do not see so much the importance of Taffarel as a goalkeeping coach. I have managed to keep a high level for so long because I have a qualified coach like him.” It is a rare acknowledgement – and an honest one. Alisson’s longevity at the top, after all, is not explained by talent alone.
